PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- One night after the Portland
Trail Blazers extended the longest current playoff run in the
Western Conference, they ended the longest current run in the
East.

Rasheed Wallace scored 25 points and the Trail Blazers cruised
to an 88-80 victory over the New York Knicks, who were
eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in 15
years.

On Wednesday, the Trail Blazers clinched their 20th straight
postseason appearance -- the longest current streak in the NBA
-- when the Los Angeles Clippers lost at Utah. They are two
shy of the longest streak in NBA history, set by the Syracuse
Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers from 1950-71.

"Early on (this season), I heard that we were in jeopardy of
not making the playoffs and rightfully so," Portland coach
Maurice Cheeks said. "I believe it's a heck of an
accomplishment for any franchise to be in the playoffs 20
straight years. I think that's something to be proud of."

The Knicks had not missed the playoffs since 1987, reaching the
NBA Finals twice in that span. But last year, they were
bounced in the opening round of the playoffs for the first time
in 10 years and the deterioration continued this season.

Coach Jeff Van Gundy abruptly resigned in December and was
replaced by Don Chaney, who has been unable to instill an
intensity in his players. Center Marcus Camby went down for
the season with a hip injury and the Knicks (28-46) are headed
for a 50-loss season.

"I have no thoughts on that at all," Chaney said. "Our main
focus right now, as I have said in the last couple of weeks, is
that we have to stay competitive."

"It's something that we've seen coming," Knicks swingman
Latrell Sprewell said. "It would be different if we were right
there, but we've been out of it for a while now."

Some of the frustration came out in the third quarter, when the
Knicks were allowing the Blazers to open a 16-point lead.
Sprewell elbowed Bonzi Wells and was ejected for his second
technical foul.

"We were both banging and playing physical," Sprewell said. "I
don't know who was at fault, but he was definitely swinging his
elbows. If he would have hit my face, it would have gotten
ugly out there."

"He's not going to let a guy shove him around in there and I
admire that," Chaney said. "We could have used him in the game
but both guys are warriors and they fought."

Wells and Derek Anderson scored 16 points apiece for Portland,
which snapped a three-game losing streak and moved within one
game of Minnesota for fifth place in the West.

"It was a good step, especially with these next seven or eight
games down the stretch," Portland forward Scottie Pippen said.
"We need to generate some kind of momentum, start playing some
kind of consistent basketball and preparing ourself for the
postseason."

Clarence Weatherspoon had his best game of the season with 20
points and 20 rebounds for the Knicks, who began a three-game
road trip by dropping to 8-29 away from home.

Portland never trailed, opening a 24-15 lead after one quarter
and widening it to 44-32 at halftime. New York, which missed
its first 11 3-pointers, cut the deficit to five points in the
third quarter before losing momentum.

Wallace and Wells scored six points each in an 18-7 surge that
gave the Blazers a 70-54 lead with 2:21 remaining.

The Knicks trailed 73-58 entering the final period but closed
to 81-75 with 3:05 to play on a 3-pointer by Mark Jackson, who
had 15 points and 10 assists. However, Anderson responded with
a three-point play and New York got no closer than five points
thereafter.

Damon Stoudamire scored 12 points for the Blazers, who won
despite shooting just 38 percent (30-of-79) from the field.
Dale Davis pulled down a season-high 18 rebounds.

"Billy Cunningham used to say there is no bad win. I believe
that," Cheeks said.

Kurt Thomas had 15 points and 11 boards for the Knicks, who
shot 40 percent (32-of-80) and committed 17 turnovers.